If you’ve been waiting for lossless audio on the AirPods Max, good news: Apple is finally making it happen. A firmware update in April 2025 will bring lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to Apple’s premium over-ear headphones.

But before you get too excited, there’s a catch—lossless audio only works when you’re using a wired USB-C connection. So, if you were hoping for a wireless upgrade, that’s not happening.

Apple’s update will allow AirPods Max to play lossless audio at 24-bit, 48 kHz when connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac via USB-C. That means better sound quality, with more clarity and detail than what’s possible over Bluetooth.

The update also improves Personalized Spatial Audio, so you’ll get a higher-quality, more immersive sound when listening to Apple Music’s Spatial Audio tracks.

That said, this is not the highest level of lossless audio out there. Some music services, like Qobuz and Tidal, offer 24-bit, 96 kHz or even 192 kHz audio. Apple’s version tops out at 48 kHz, so while it’s a noticeable improvement, it’s still behind the competition in raw fidelity.

And again, this only applies when you’re using a wired connection. Bluetooth is still limited to Apple’s AAC codec, which doesn’t support lossless audio.

The update isn’t just about better sound quality—it also introduces ultra-low latency audio, which could be a game-changer for musicians, gamers, and streamers.

• For musicians, this means AirPods Max can be used for recording and mixing with minimal delay. Apple says they’ll be the only headphones that allow musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking when using Logic Pro and other music software.
• For gamers and live streamers, ultra-low latency helps keep audio in sync with what’s happening on screen, making the experience more seamless. Apple claims that, with a wired connection, AirPods Max will be just as fast as Mac, iPad, and iPhone speakers in terms of audio response time.

One thing to note: this update is only for the USB-C version of AirPods Max. If you’re still using the original Lightning model, you’re out of luck—Apple isn’t bringing these features to older models.

The original AirPods Max never supported true lossless audio, even with a wired Lightning connection. Apple’s new implementation fixes that for USB-C models, but still doesn’t allow for wireless lossless playback—something that competing brands like Sony, Sennheiser, and Audeze already offer through LDAC and aptX Lossless codecs.

This is a big update for AirPods Max owners—if you don’t mind using a cable. The addition of lossless audio and ultra-low latency makes them more useful for serious music listeners, producers, and gamers, but it’s not the wireless lossless experience many were hoping for.

For now, Apple is sticking to wired lossless audio, keeping Bluetooth users locked into compressed AAC. That may change in the future, but for now, if you want true lossless audio on AirPods Max, you’ll need to plug in.

The firmware update will roll out in April 2025 alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.

To access lossless audio, you’ll need to use a USB-C to USB-C cable (which comes with the AirPods Max). Apple is also selling a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for $39, allowing you to plug into traditional audio sources like airplane entertainment systems or DACs.